The contribution of organic and mineral colloidal nanoparticles to element transport in a podzol soil.

The aim of this work is to analyze the size-distribution and composition of nanoparticles in a water-extract of a podzol B horizon. AsFlowFFF coupled to ICP–MS and a UV/VIS detector was used for particle fractionation and simultaneous measurement of the composition of the nanoparticles. Detected nanoparticles were organic and mineral particles; the mineral particles were dominated by clay and Fe-(hydr)oxides. Both organic- and inorganic particles contributed to the mobility of Fe, Al, trace metals and P. For Zn, Pb and P respectively 73%, 92% and 72% of the colloidal concentrations were associated with clay minerals. The large contribution of clay particles to the mobility of trace metals and P can be partly explained by the high amount of dispersed clay due to drying, sieving and rewetting of the soil. Inorganic nanoparticles can contribute significantly to the mobility of metals and P in soils.